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Chipotle’s chief accounting and administrative officer is leaving the company. Jamie McConnell is leaving for another opportunity after seven years with the burrito chain. Â
Einstein Bros. has named Jessica Serrano to the role of chief marketing officer. The former CMO for Dig Inn, Serrano will oversee brand, digital, culinary innovation and guest experience strategy across all of the Bagel Brands within Einstein, including Bruegger’s Bagels, Noah’s New York Bagels and Manhattan Bagel. Einstein is part of the Panera Brands platform, which includes sister brands Panera Bread and Caribou Coffee.
Twin Peaks Hospitality Group tapped Andy Wiederhorn as chairman of the board. Wiederhorn is the founder and chairman of FAT Brands, which owned Twin Peaks before spinning it off earlier this year. He’ll work with new CEO Kim Boerema and the rest of the Twin Peaks management team as they look to grow the brand.
Yum Brands’ incoming CEO Chris Turner added another title to his role: director of the board. Both will be effective on Oct. 1. Turner has been Yum’s CFO since 2019. He was tapped to succeed David Gibbs, who is retiring after 36 years with the company. Yum owns Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger.
Emerging Fund, The growth capital firm behind the tech-driven experiential dining concepts Puttshack, Batbox, Flight Club, F1 Arcade and Poolhouse has added three new senior executives to its leadership team. Peter Kratsios is the new managing director, experiential strategic growth; Steve Lane is managing director, international growth; and Julie Martin is the new chief financial officer.
Ascent Hospitality Management, franchisor of Perkins American Food Co. and Huddle House, has promoted Natalie Hansen to VP of franchise sales. Hansen previously served as senior director of development for the company, leading franchise growth across both brands.
JV Hernandez is the new executive chef for the Elm & Good restaurant within The Kimpton Pittman Hotel in Dallas. Originally from Puerto Rico, Hernandez began his career in Dallas at The Joule Hotel, and worked at The Tower Club of Dallas and Omni Hotels. His career later brought him to kitchens in the Virgin Islands, San Diego, Maine, Denver and Orlando. Most recently he helmed the kitchen at Bambara, Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City.
The Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, has named Lucas Fleming the executive chef, overseeing menu development and culinary operations for the signature restaurant Evelyn’s, as well as the entertainment venue Analog. He served previously as executive sous chef at The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Nashville.
Charleston, S.C. Chef Alex Eaton has been named culinary director of Felix Cocktails et Cuisine and La Cave. She will oversee back-of-the-house operations and spearhead menu development, collaborating with the current team. Eaton was most recently executive chef of Estadio in Charleston.
Corey Cova is the new executive chef of Metropole on Walnut in Cincinnati, Ohio. A Navy veteran, Cova has worked for top New York chefs at restaurants that included Momofuku Ssam Bar and Morimoto. But he got his start as a submarine-qualified cook aboard the USS Jimmy Carter. And he once trained under Michael Symon at Lolita in Cleveland, where he got to know the region’s tastes. The Metropole is located in the 21c Museum Hotel.
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